MPD: Man punches, chokes woman on NYE

Published 5:43 pm, Wednesday, January 1, 2014

A Midland man was arrested Tuesday for assaulting, choking and holding a woman against her will, according to court documents.

Roy Ira Harrel Jr., 36, is being held on a $25,000 bond for a third-degree felony charge of assault on a family or household member by impeding breathing and class A misdemeanor charges of assault-family violence causing bodily injury and unlawful restraint.

A Midland police officer responded to a disturbance at about 3:45 a.m. Tuesday in the 1300 block of Latta Street.

The complainant told the officer that she heard a woman scream for help and a man say he was going to kill the woman. The officer approached the apartment where the disturbance occurred and kicked in the front door to gain entry, according to the arrest affidavit.

The officer detained the man, identified as Harrel, and talked to the woman, who said Harrel had been assaulting her throughout the night. She said Harrel punched her in the face several times and removed her phone battery when she tried to call for help, according to the affidavit.

The woman said she tried to leave the apartment, but Harrel pinned her down on the ground and choked her, causing her to nearly lose consciousness.

If convicted, Harrel faces up to 10 years in prison for the felony charge and up to one year for each misdemeanor charge.